An ugly unloss

Funny, the Browns win their first game in 273 days, and I have little to say. The 20-12 victory in Cincinnati was as unimpressive as it was necessary. Yesterday confirmed that the Browns are a talented team prone to underperform. I have little doubt that Carson Palmer would have beaten the Browns soundly had he […]

Tough trivia #48

Which Brown appears in the team’s passing statistics only because he was once sacked for a 14-yard loss? Answer to #47: Most rushing yards by a quarterback. Mike Phipps’ 395 yards on the ground in 1973 is the most ever for a Browns QB. He outgained all but one of his teammates and led the […]

Tough trivia #47

What single-season franchise high was set in 1973 and remains unbroken to this day? Answer to #46: 1993. Eric Metcalf returned two punts for scores in a memorable win over Pittsburgh. Mark Carrier returned a Rams punt 56 yards for a touchdown in a 42-14 romp in December of that year.

Tough trivia #46

What was the only season in which two different Browns scored touchdowns on punt returns? Answer to #45: Rookie QB Terry Luck, making his only NFL start, was on the receiving end of a trick play, catching a four-yard touchdown pass from Greg Pruitt during the 1977 season finale, a 20-19 loss in Seattle.

Browns-Bengals: a do or dialogue

Once again, I’ve traded thoughts about the upcoming game with a gentleman named Sportz Assassin over on AOL Fanhouse. Here’s a brief preview of Sunday’s pivotal Browns-Bengals matchup:Sportz Assassin: The Battle Of Ohio. Can we still say “throw the records out the window when these two get together?” Ace Davis: Definitely. Several of the most […]

Hello, yellow

Among their other dubious distinctions, the Browns are tied for the league lead in penalties. Last season they were third, behind only Arizona and Oakland. Let’s break this down a bit. Here’s the details on all 31 infractions, including those declined and offset: by number… 4 — Seth McKinney 3 — Braylon Edwards, Brandon McDonald, […]

Pointed points

What conclusions can be drawn about a football team, and its coach, by analyzing its scoring pattern? Quite a bit, if the team scores and allows points throughout the four quarters in an uneven distribution. Let’s start with the following assumptions: A high net point margin in the first quarter reflects especially well on the […]

Mind-numbing numbers

No team in the NFL has committed more penalties. Only one other team besides the Browns has yet to go for it on fourth down. (The league-wide success rate is 52%) The Browns are one of just five teams that have yet to recover an opponent’s fumble. The Browns are the only team who has […]